Switch.



E. .J. ALLISON.

SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 18. 1918.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1 E. J. ALLISON.

ssssss l"; a 5 W1 W3 niumml il NW EARNEST JOSEPH ALLISON, OF WHITEFISH, MONTANA.

SWITCH.

Application filed April 18, 1918.

To all lr-lwm if may concern? lie it known that Ll himns'r J. ALLISON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of 'hitefislniu the county Of Flath ad and State of Montana. have invented certain new and useful lmproven'lents in Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in switches, and has for its object to provide a switch which may be. automatically operated by train carried means for opening or closing the switch at all times when a train passes in either direction on the main or ide tracks.

further object is to provide a switch including means for openingthe same when a train is to go into the siding. means for automatically latching the switch in open position, and means for automatically tripping the latching meai after the train is in the siding.

1n the drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a switch constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows adjacent the line.

Fig. 3 is a detail transverse vertical section corresponding to the right hand portion of Fig. '2, showing the way in which the switch lever is actuated by the train carried shoe.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the said shoe.

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the switch point operating mechanism.

Fig. (3 is a partial bottom the same. I

' Fig. 7 is a section on the line 77-0f Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows adjacent the line.

Figs, 8, 9, and 10 are sections all taken on the line 88 of Fig. 5, showing the switch mechanism in various positions dur ing its operation. i

In the present embodiment of the invention. 5 indicates the main line track rail, 6 the cross ties, and 7 the switch points, the numeral 8 being applied to the rails of the side track.

At a point. about an engineg length from the switch points on the main and side tracks is a switch lever 9 pivoted inter-me plan view of 'diate its ends to a bracket 10 supported by Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1o, 1918.

Serial No. 229.436.

the rail, and the upper end of the lever 9 is provided with arms 11 which curve away from the rails, in such manner that a train carried shoe 1'2 when dropped upon the rails, as a train approaches, may engage the upper ends of the levers for swingingthe same away from the rails.

A pair of shoes may be carried by the locomotive and a pair by the caboose or rear car of the train, so that a shoe may be dropped upon either of the rails of the track at the front or at the rear'end of the train as may be desired.

Each shoe consists of a flat portion or plate adapted to travel along the tread 'ot the rail and a depending double wedge shaped flange l-l adapted to travel along the outer edge f the tread,the flange being adapted to act as a wedge to slide between the arms 11 and the rails to engage the switch lever in order to throw the same.

A lug; 13 is provided at thecenter ot' the plate portion of the shoe, and this lug is pivoted between the arms of the fork at the lower end of mechanism operable from the train for raisingand lowering the shoe. Each switch lever is normally held in contact with the adjacent rail by means of a spring 15 connected at one end to the lever below its pivot connection, and connected at its other end to an adjacent cross tie or 4 other fixed object.

Rods 17 are arranged transversely of the main track between the cross ties and beneath the rails, and each is pivotally connected at one end to the lower end of a switch lever 9 and connected at the opposite. end t a lug 19 depending from one arm of a bell crank lever :20 pivoted at 21 to the, top of the tie. The other arm of each lever is pivotally connected to one end of a reach rod or link 22 which extends longitudinally of the track adjacent one rail and on the opposite side of the track from the switch lever 9. I

For the sake of clcarness. the switch le er at the left of Fig. 1 will be hereafter termed the lever A, that at the right on the siding lever B, and that on the right in the main line C, and the switch levers indicated at. B and C are both connected to the adjacent rod l7, the said rod being oftr length to extend from the left hand main line rail in Fig. 1 to the left hand sidingline rail, and it will be evident that either the lever B01 cross ties. the shifting bar being arranged between the bridges and the base flanges .27 of the rail. This shitting bar when moved longitudinallj transversel tot the track will. carry with it the switch points Tsothat the switch will he opened or closed,depending upon the direction of movement of the switch bar;

As shown in Fi to the. switchpoints to block actuating; hell crank levers the said levers '28 being piv- 'oted to plates :25) secured to ties at opposite sides of the shift bar and at the outer sides of the rail. These levers as will be evident from inspection of Fig. frare oppositely arranged. Each end of the shift bar 25 carries a housing extending longitlldinallythere- ".sidetrack.

of, a h hcnlsingr being open at one end and the open ends extending: in the same direction. Each housing hasa h-asci portion-30,

. riv -t-d tothe shitt bar to secure thehousing J'inp plce, and the housings are so arranged,

" of -the niovement thereof and" they are. guided III1311911.mOVQnlQnt by the housings.

that their open ends extend toward the sides o'fthc i'naint'rack onwhiclr the side track.

Blocks 31 are mounted to slidein the housings upon the shift liar and imlependei'ltly the upper. surfaces of ,the blocks 31 being spaced from the tops or roofs of; the-- housings. The blocku levers have the inner arms the levers 28 hasa slot wliiich'engag'es a stud, on 'tl're' hlock. and it w ll heevnlent that when the lovers are swung the blocks w ll heino-ved longitiidinallv ot' thc housings} Latch carrying levers loextend through the slots in the shift bar at each end thereof,

.ethc said levers lining pivotjcdi to hrackets 36 The lower one end to one o'lthc arms of a hell crank lever 3 pivoted to a lnacketlll on thc undertace of the shift har. The othcrarin oflhe hell crank has an upwardly c;Xtendinggfinger.

: 41 which is adapted to.:passthrongh a'slot in the shift liar, and a coil sprin'g tzyicts ger lhrohglr thenormally to force the in the reach rods or links 22 are connected at the ends adjacent opening in the har. This sprint is arranged on a rod 43 which depends from the 'sln'tt bar and passes through an opening in the arn'r "ojt fthec'lhow lever. the spring encirclinje the rod between the lever and a stop adjustable on the rod. This lever 35) is atrip' lever andthe lever is normally held vin the locking position of Fig. ll. i. 0., throuirhithe dp ningin the shift har hv the spring.

" ""lli e linger 41 is so placed that \vhcn the main track open, as shown in Fig. 8. the finger will he beneath the hasc flange ot' the adjacent rail 5 and will he held in contact therewith by the spring: 42,. The switch points are norniallvhcld inthc position --shown in Fig;

8 i. c.. with the sidetrack" .closedqhy .ineans of a heavy coil spring" 41% I vwhic;l .i"is arrangnxdbetween a rail 5 and a stop lS'adjustahle on the rod 46 rigidly connected with a switch-point T, and extending through an opening in the main line rail 5. The springis hetwecn'the stop and the llltlll] line rail. audacts to draw the switch points into closed position. This spring 44 is arranged .at the opposite side of the track from the hell crank 3 and adjacent to the inner main line rail or that rail which is closest to the 'l he-latchcs {-37 have catches or hoolts at one end.andthese 'catches v or hooks are adapted .,to engage rcccssesA-G in the blocks i-lll' licforc .incntion'ed. "lhese' latches 37 extend into the honsingsQS to'eng'age the blocks. and it will he noticed-that each latch has an "u 'nvardly cur\'ed ta il; -l7 which when the latches are in-cngagreinent with the blocks. extend slightlv' above the tops of the'housings. When the shift har'25 is moved, the housings 2%,the' latches 37, and

latch carrying levers I the link 38, the trip lever 35). and sw tch points} nove therewith,

while the blocks 31' are movable independcntlyv oi tho shift liar, and arc actuated by means o' t'the switch levers 1) above tioned. i

It for instance, a train is coming from the left of l i l; and the side track is'sct to the main line the shoe on thc lct'thand side oi the locomotive will he droppcd'to the left hand inain rail as indicated in Fig. 1. The parts arc'shown in Fig. H in the same position as they are shown in Fig. 1.1 c., withthc switch set *ior the inain line. and each Fig.8, '9, and" I0 is looking in the same direction in whichthl-i train is moving.

f'lhehlo'cks' fif in Fig. 8 are near the closed ends of the housings, As the shoe moves into engagement with the lever '1) in position A, the block 31 which is on the right hand "siilc'ot' Fin. 8 will'he niovcd toward the Mt through the niedinni of the rods and hell crank levers connecting the block with the leverat position A and the hloclcwill engage the wall of the housing to move the shift bar. Thus the shift bar 25 will be moved toward the left against the tension of spring 44.

j The block at the left of Fig. 8 will remain stationary and as the switch point 7 at the left comes in contact with the adjacent rail '5, the shift bar will remove sufficiently to move the finger 41 to clear the rail 5 and,

latch levers connected therewith, the

latches through gravity engaging with the notches or recesses 46 of the blocks. It will be evident that when the latches are in the position of Fig. 8 the tails 47 of the latches by their engagement with the housings 28* are held out of engagement with the blocks; When the latches are tripped, the bar will have been shifted far enough so that the hook of the left hand latch will be in position to drop into the recess in the block at the left of the figure. This movement of the parts will take place during the short interval of time which the shoe 12 consumes in passing the lever 9 at the position A.

block.

Immediately the shoe passes out of engagemcnt withthe lever, the spring 15 connecte with the said lever will throw the upper end of the same back into engagement with the rail, thus shifting the block at the right toward the open end of tl'lOllOllSlIlg and in the position shown in Fig. 9. The block will now .be forced against the adjacent latch 37 raising the same sufficiently, so that the hook may engage in the recess in the It will be evident therefore that as a train approaches the side track, the lever at position A will be shifted to throw the switch, and will subsequently be brought back to normal position by reason of its spring 15, the block at the right of Figs. 8, 5), and 1t) meanwhile rcn'iaining stationary and this movement of the switch points and subsequent movement of the lever at position A into normal position, will position the parts so that the switch is locked by means of the trip lever, and the latches 37 are in engagement with the respective blocks.

Upon the passage of the shoe carried by the locomotive beyond the lever at position A. said shoe will be lifted, and the train will pass onto the side track, plnd the left hand shoe carried by' the caboose or rear car of the train. as said .rear car moves onto the side As the said lever is actuated its cross rod 17 will be drawn to the left or toward the top of Fig. 1, thus shifting the block at the left of Fi '9 to the left, the block at the right mea while remaining stationary. As the block at the left moves toward the left, through the medium of this adjacent latch 37, the latch levers 35 will be shifted, the shiftbar remaining stationary because of the engagement of the left hand switch point with the adjacent main track rail, and the link 38 will be shifted toward the right thus drawing the finger 41 down wardly and moving the levers until the upturned portions of the latches are about to engage the tops of the housings, at which point the finger will be almost below the level ofthe rail. 7

This position is shown in. Fig. 10, and it is evident that as the block at the left moves farther toward the left, as the shoe moves farther into engagement with the switch lever B, the adjacent. latch 37 by engagement with the top of the housing will be tripped out of engagenn-nt with the block at the left, whereupon the spring H will immediately shift the switch points into the position shown in Fig. 8. the parts in the meantime having moved so that thefinger 41 is just below the base flange of the rail. As the latch levers 35 on the left are moved by the action of the block at the left, the latch lever on the right is similarly turned, so. that when the left hand latch is out of engagement with the left hand block. the right hand latch will be out of engagement with the right hand block, and when the shift bar moves to the right the right hand latch will not engage the right hand block. but will be in the position shown in Fig. i.

It is evident from the above. that a train passing in the direction indicated will first operate the. lever, at position A to automatically open the switch, and after passing into the side track, will operate the lever at position B to trip the mechanism through the medium of the left hand block so that the switch will be autoimltically closed. Should the train pass on'the main track. from the right of Fig. 1, the switch points being in the position such that the siding is open. one of the. shoes of the engine may be dropped to engage the lever at position C, whereby the switch may be tripped to permit thetrain to pass, and should the train be approaching from the right at Fig. 1 on the siding. the switch points being closed, one of the shoes may be dropped to operate the lever at po-' sition B. to throw the switch so that the .train might pass from the siding on the main the switch has been described as being automatit ally operable by train carried shoes, it may equally well be operated by means of a hand lever. i

,1. A switch mechanism including main line rails. side track rails and movable switch points for controlling the. entrance of trains onto the s ide track rails. a shift bar to which said switch points are "secur-l, aj switchlevcr positioned on the main rail at a distance. from said shiftbar. a crossrod connected to said lever. a bell crank lever to, which said cross rod is pivoted..a reach rod to which said ball crank leveris pivoted, a switch lever positioned on oneo'f the siding :rails. a cross rod connected to second said switch-lever. and extending 21(1055 lllflllitlill rails. a third switch lever connected to one of the main rails. said third s'witch lever being connected to said second cross rod. a second bell crank lever towhich said second cross rod is pivoted..- a second reach rod to which said second bellcrank. lever is pivoted. said reach rods extending toward said shift bar. and means associated with said reach rods and shift bar for moving the latter in one direction when one. of the said switch levers is moved means for locking said shift. bar when moving into oneposition. and means associated with said shift bar and reach rods for tripping said lockiugmech anism when one of said levers is subsequently operated.

A switch mechanism including main rails and switch points, a shift bar positioned transversely of said main rails, and connectcd to said switch points. spring means for normally holding said switch points in one position. housings carried by said shift. bar. blocks movable independently of each other and of said shift bar and Supported on said bar within said housings," latclnlevers supported by said bar, a link connecting said latch levers, latches pivoted to said lev'ers,-a trip lever supported by said shift barand connected to said link, a finger carried by said trip lever adapted to engage one of the main rails when said bar is shifted out of normal position. spring means fol-normally holdin said trip lever inposition whereby said finger may engage said rails. means operable at. a distance for moving said blocks in a. position to shift said barfsaid'blocks when said bar is in shifted position. adapted to be engaged by the said latches in position to trip said trip lever, and meansoperable at a distance for moving said blocks whereby to trip said trip lever.

A switch mechanism including main rails, and switch points, a shift bar to which saidswitch points are connected. housings carried by said shift bar, blocks movable independently of said shift bar and supported thereon within said housings. means fornormally holding said shift bar in one position, a triplever carried by said shift bar, means for normally holding said lever whereby to lock said bar relatively to said mainrails whcnsaid bar is shifted. means operable at a distance for moving one of said blocks into engagement with one of said associated with'said trip lever and blocks whereby whenone of the latter is shifted subsequently to the shifting of said bar, said trip lever may be,tripptnl. and means operable at a distance for moving one of said housings whereby to shift said bar, means 1 blocks subsequently to the shifting of said bar. v

r. b A switch mechanism including main rails and switch points, a shift bar to which said points are connected, means for nor mally holding said shift bar in one position, a housing carried bvsaid shift bar. a block carried by said shift bar .within said housing and movable independently of said shift bar,

a trip lever-carried by said shift bar adapt,-

ed to engage one of said rails when said bar is shifted for locking the bar in shifted position. a latch lever pivotally-carricd by said shift-bar. a link connecting said trip and latch levers. a latch carried by said latch lever and normally engaged against said housing in raised position. said latch adapted to'be engaged by said block subsequently to the shifting of saidbar. and m ans operable at a distance for moving said block, said block upon initial movement being adapted to shift said bar and upon subsequent movement to actuate said trip lever.

A switch mechanism including a switch bar. a housing secured thereom a block movable within aid housing indtqiemlently of said shift bar. a bell crank lever. said housing provided with a slot through \vhichonc arm of said lever extends. said block providedwith a recess into which said lever arm extends, said lever arm provided with an elongated slot. :1 pin extending through the slot of said lever i'm for connecting said arm to said block and means for operating .gage said housing when said lever is in position for holding said latch in raised .liit) position, a movable block for operating said shift bar, ooactin means between said latch and block for looning them subsequently to the shifting of said bar, and means for operating said block.

7. A switch mechanism including a shift bar, movable switch points connected to said shift bar and movable therewith, a block movable independently of said bar, means carried by said bar adapted to be engaged by said block when the latter is moved in one direction for shifting said bar, means connected with said bar for locking the same when in shifted position, and means operable by said block for tripping said locking means when said block is moved subsequently to the shifting of said bar.

8. A switch mechanism including main rails, and switch points, a shift bar to which said points are connected, means for normally holding said bar in one position, an element movable independently of said shift bar, and adapted when moved in oneposition to shift said bar out of normal position, means for normally holding said element in one position, whereby to return said element to normal position subsequently to the shifting of said bar, locking mechanism associated with said shift bar and adapted to lock the latter in shifted position, and means operabie by said element for tripping said locking means when said element is moved subsequently to. the shifting of said bar.

Witnesses:

G. NISWONGER,

C. C. Coons. 

